Greetings!
Welcome to the Academic Affairs newsletter. Browse updates and announcements, connect to tips and resources, and check out stories from around campus.
Message from EVC Simmons
Dear Colleagues,

My recent interactions with colleagues and students have reminded me that this time of the term can be incredibly busy for everyone on campus. This mid-quarter crunch, combined with the continuing pressures of the pandemic, can feel positively overwhelming for some.

So I want to take this moment to acknowledge and express gratitude for all of the incredible work you all have been doing to realize our aspirations to return to in-person learning, research, and engagement this fall. Our campus exposure rates continue to be low due to vigilance regarding masking and testing, and I hope the reward of being back together on campus has helped make those practices feel worthwhile. 

Thank you. I appreciate your contributions to our community and I look forward to discovering ways we can work together more intentionally and collaboratively in the times ahead. 


Best regards,
Elizabeth H. Simmons
New Committee to Integrate EDI Best Practices Forming

The EVC’s Human Resource office is excited to announce the start of a new committee called VCAA ACTs: Advocates. Changes. Transforms. to integrate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion best practices into processes across the areas the office serves. They are accepting self-nominations for the committee, which can be submitted here until Nov. 24, 2021. For more information on the committee and the logistics, please visit the ACTs homepage.
Pegah Parsi Named UC San Diego’s Staff Veteran of the Year

Campus Privacy Officer Pegah Parsi has been voted UC San Diego’s Veteran of the Year. Pegah, who joined UC San Diego in January 2018 as the campus’ first privacy officer, is an Army veteran. Both she and Student Veteran of the Year honoree Dana Gibson, a Navy Veteran who supports the success of fellow military-connected students through her leadership and campus involvement, will be honored at the 22nd Annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony hosted by the UCSD Staff Veteran Association on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the SuperComputer Center Auditorium. For more information about the event, or to obtain tickets, you can visit the Eventbrite page.
Founders Day Forthcoming

Celebrate UC San Diego’s founding on November 16 with free treats, music and giveaways! Since UC San Diego’s founding, thinkers, doers and dare-to-dreamers have championed the kind of discoveries and accomplishments you don't see every day. Celebrate our anniversary and the uncommon spirit that has elevated UC San Diego to one of the top universities in the world. Faculty and staff are encouraged to visit the Staff Association tent at the event for a special Triton Treat.
Faculty Resources Available for Winter Quarter Syllabi Preparation

As we look toward the winter quarter, faculty are reminded there are a wealth of resources available to assist with including a privacy statement within your syllabus, as well as guidance on how to create a flexible course format and employ teaching modalities that provide options for students who may continue to be impacted by COVID-19. Faculty are also reminded to access the resources available through the Teaching and Learning Commons to enhance learning and increase student success.
Resources for Supporting Students with a Housing Crisis

Ensuring that students have basic resources to support their health and well-being is a task often tackled by faculty and staff within departments and colleges who have developed rapport and personal relationships with those they see most often. We know that housing scarcity and challenges continue for some students. Here are a variety of resources you can use when providing support to your students:

Resources for Faculty and Staff to support students in distress. Tips for interacting with a distressed student, contact information for Undergraduate College and Graduate Division Deans of Student Affairs, Triton Concern Line information, and Case Management contacts.

Information about on- and off-campus housing, including temporary and emergency housing solutions for students.

Students who are facing challenges with access to housing may complete this form to be assessed for financial assistance and/or eligibility for Basic Needs Emergency Grant funding via the Financial Crisis Response Team.

In partnership with Apartments.com, provides updated listings near campus and throughout San Diego.
Faculty Club Reopen for All Faculty and Staff
The Faculty Club has reopened for lunch for all faculty and staff, with or without a membership. This special opportunity will last through the end of the calendar year and will allow everyone to see the refreshed club interior and try the club’s new menu. Patrons can also use the Triton2Go app to order to-go food, as well as enjoy a new courtyard breakfast service beginning November 8. For more information, please visit the Faculty Club website.  
November is Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month offers a variety of events such as speakers, performances, workshops, film screenings, and more in order to promote awareness of issues in Indian Country. For a listing of this month’s events, please visit the heritage month’s site on Blink.
Upcoming Staff Development and Education Offerings

Staff Development offers a variety of training and educational events in support of staff at UC San Diego. If long trainings are difficult to fit into your schedule, consider their People on the Go Project Management Classes, or visit their website for a full listing of available opportunities.
New Academic Search Process

OARS (Office of Academic Recruitment Services) has changed, as of November 1, the abbreviated search process for certain titles to reduce workload for department administrators and provide efficiency to the recruitment process that will support hiring demands throughout the academic year. The titles eligible for the abbreviated recruitment process are the following:  
  • Adjunct Professor Series  
  • Lecturers/Unit 18 Non-Senate Instructors Titles  
  • Postdoctoral Employees  
  • Project Scientist Series  
  • Research Scientist Series  
  • Specialist Series  
  • University Extension Titles  

OARS is hosting a Learn at Lunch on Nov. 18, from 12 to 1 p.m. This training covers how to set up and manage the new abbreviated process to ensure compliance and effectiveness. Sign-ups for the informational training can be found online through UC Learning Center. For additional questions about this training or the abbreviated search process, contact oars@ucsd.edu.
Signature Campus Events

As a reminder, the campus shares the dates of signature events to encourage awareness and to encourage participation in these activities by members of the campus community. As these dates and programs draw near, additional information will be shared with the UC San Diego community by the coordinating departments. Volunteers make our large-scale events possible.

Here are the upcoming Signature Event dates: 
  • Triton Day: Saturday, April 2, 2022
  • Transfer Triton Day: Saturday, May 14, 2022
  • Commencement Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, 2022
Lab Security Podcast

Chief Information Security Officer Mike Corn joined IT Services’ The Current podcast to discuss all things passwords (1:55) and steps researchers and PIs can take to secure their lab environments from hackers (6:28). Listen now!
Global Entrepreneurship Week

UC San Diego is the San Diego city organization for the world's largest celebration of entrepreneurship, Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is Nov. 8-14, 2021. The week is the world’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship with activities happening in more than 180 countries. For more information about events across the globe, visit gewusa.co.
Orchid: North Torrey Pines Living Learning Neighborhood

Brace yourselves, architects. San Diego's annual design competition Thursday night handed out prizes for the region's best and worst architecture. The closely watched event gave out cherished Orchids for the finest architecture. It also gave...

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